A BIRMINGHAM schoolboy died when he was hurled off his bicycle in an horrific hit and run accident just half an hour after breaking up for the summer holidays.

The tragic teenager, named locally as Justin Murphy, aged 13, was cycling home from Cardinal Wiseman School in Kingstanding yesterday when the accident happened.

He was stuck by a car and flung more than 50ft through the air, shocked witnesses said.

And they told how Justin's parents arrived at the scene a short time later and had to be prevented by police from rushing to their son.

The tragedy happened at 12.50pm in Hurlingham Road at the junction with Firbeck Road and Leyton Grove, just a few streets away from Justin's home, in Homerton Road.

Police were today questioning a man about the accident.

They said Justin was struck by a silver-blue Audi A6 which did not stop. The car was later found abandoned two streets away.

Tributes were pouring in for keen footballer Justin, who has two sisters aged five and 17, and a large number of floral tributes had been placed at the scene.

Justin's father was too upset to comment, but a neighbour said the family had been left "devastated".

She said: "He was a lovely lad who would do anything for anyone. Justin used to love playing football."

One of the first on the scene was mother-of-two Wendy Weaver, of Hurlingham Road.

"I saw a crowd of people in the road and heard someone saying a young boy had been knocked down," she said. "I rushed over thinking it was one of my boys.

"Everyone was just standing around in shock doing nothing so I said 'Why aren't you doing anything?' and they told me he was dead. I said they couldn't be sure and felt for a pulse but there wasn't one.

"Although he was dead, I went and got him a blanket to give him some dignity until the ambulance arrived."

Mrs Weaver said other residents had claimed the car was speeding and did not even brake.

"We have terrible problems with speeding cars here and have been on at the council for speed bumps," she said.

Cardinal Wiseman School dinnerlady, Maxine Turner, was also on the scene shortly after the accident.

Mrs Turner, also of Hurlingham Road, said: "He was knocked down at the junction yet landed under a car at least 50ft down the road.

"I recognised him as a boy from the school and can remember serving him dinners. His parents came along and were desperately trying to get past the police tape to go and see him but the police wouldn't let them."

She told how she had heard the car contained several people in the back seat.

Det Insp Steve Bimson, of Sutton Coldfield police, said a silver blue Audi A6 was found abandoned in the Beckenham Avenue and Betsham Grove area shortly after the accident.

"It has been recovered and is being examined and we are appealing for witnesses," he said. "We would like to hear from anyone who saw the car being driven in Hurlingham Road or being abandoned in Beckenham Avenue to contact us."